Enjoy life in SA’s marine parks

Minister Ian Hunter Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation / Minister for Water and the River Murray / Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation

The importance of marine parks and how they can be enjoyed by all South Australians will be the focus of an education campaign starting this month.

The new advertisements, which aired on TV this morning, feature some of SA’s amazing marine life, such as sea lions, leafy sea dragons and sharks, as well as activities you can enjoy in marine parks, including beach and jetty fishing.

Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Ian Hunter said the advertisements featuring in cinemas, in print, on billboards, bus shelters and online would be supported with a range of community engagement activities such as shopping centre information days and regional road shows.

“The establishment of a network of marine parks has been 10 years in the making and has been a major investment in the long-term future of our marine environment and the prosperity of our State,” Mr Hunter said.

“More than 35,000 people have been involved in consultations over the past few years, but there are many more South Australians for whom marine parks may be new.

“That’s why we need an education campaign to help ensure the wider community is aware of our new marine parks, why they’re important and how they can use and enjoy them.

“We can reassure people that they will still be able to fish from all jetties, boat ramps and popular beaches, even next to sanctuary areas,” Mr Hunter said.

In the areas classified as ‘sanctuary zones’ within the marine parks, which make up just 6% of state waters – fishing will no longer be allowed from October 2014.

“We are confident people will do the right thing once they know where the sanctuary areas are and where they can fish.

“A suite of resources is available to show people where they can fish, including maps, brochures and the MyParx smartphone app.

"We are in the process of developing new capabilities for the MyParx app that will allow fishers to know quickly and easily whether they are in a sanctuary zone or not, using GPS mapping information.

“Fishers will be able to pre-load this mapping information into their smartphone, meaning it will work even when outside mobile phone reception range.

“As the changes to where people can fish do not take effect until October 2014, fishers will have plenty of time to adjust to the changes.”

“Marine parks have been established to help conserve SA’s marine life and ensure we can continue fishing well into the future.

“Southern Australian waters contain more varieties of marine life than the Great Barrier Reef, and many of the marine plants and animals that live here are not found anywhere else on earth.

“We need to protect our precious marine life from pressures including population growth, development and pollution.

They complement SA’s excellent fisheries management and will help boost the state’s reputation as a source of clean, fresh, healthy seafood.

“Marine parks are also places people can visit and enjoy, which will have major benefits for local communities through growth in tourism. Studies from around the world show tourists are attracted to protected areas to see and enjoy unique marine life,” Mr Hunter said.